Traction device for vehicles



Nv.6,192s. l v1,690,970

E. W. EHLERT TRACTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Fi June l, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Nov. 6, 1928.

E. W. EHLERT TRACTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed June 1, 1927 s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1928.

. /'1,69o,97o E. W. EHLERT TRACTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed June 1, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTOR N EY Patented Nov. 6, 1.928.

UNITED ,STA-TES W. EHLERT, or. Tiioiir, WISCONSIN.

A.lRiA(`.".I.ION DEVICEFOR VEHICLES.

Applicationv led `Tune 1,

. yThis inventionV relates to an attachment for a motor vehicle, the general objectof the invention being to provide means for attaching drum-like wheels tothe vehicle so that the vehicle can trave-l Vover snow covered roads as well as muddy. and sandy roads, without' difficulty.

A further object of the invention is'to provide means whereby ordinary wheels can'be associated with the drum-like wheels so that such drum-like kwheels will not touch the road surface when the vehicle is traveling over hard road surfaces free `or practically free of snow. K n

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide means whereby runners can be substituted forthe front-wheels when desired.

lThis invention also consists in certainV other features of construction and'in thejcombination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically` pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention iii detail, `reference will be had tothe accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote likeor corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side view showing an auto-k niobileequipped with the rinvention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the chassis of an automobile, showing the invention applied thereto. l

Figure 3 is `a longitudinal sectional view through that. part of the invention which takes the place of the drive wheels ofthe vehicle. y f

Figure 4 is a section online 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view partly in section, showing how a runner is substituted for a front wheel.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side view of the rear part of the vehicle.

As shown in these views, I remove the rear axle and its wheels from the vehicle and substitute therefor a cross bar 1 which supports portions of the side bars of an auxiliaryv side bars have circular portions 3 for rotat?l ably supporting the hubs 4, these hubs in turn being rotatably mounted on the ends ofy 19727. Serial No. 195,736.

thehollow axle parts 5, the -inner ends of'` f which areenlargedto forni the differential housing 6. A shaft 7 is journaled in each axle 5 and the inner ends of these shafts are connected together by the differential means 8. The outer ends of the shafts .7 are cone iiected to the hubs in the usual manner and a tire carrying wheel 9 lbolted to eachyhub. An inwardly tapering drum1O is alsobolted to each hub and these drums rotate konthe at their inner ends for receiving portions of the di'erential housing 6. friction means are placed wherever necessary, as shownl at 11.

Yhollow axles 5 and have semi-circular recesses Suitable anti? i `Longitudinally extending Alugs or blades 12 are fastened to the periphery of each drum to give the same traction and a circumferentially extending lug or blade 13 isalso .ar-

ranged on eachfdrum to prevent sidewise slipping of the same. A'shaft,penclosed in a housing 14, connects the differential means with the drive shaft of the vehicle, the housing 14 being connected with/the housing of said drive shaft b thev coupling 1 5. The

abutting flanges yo i the differentialhousing Each hub kis provided with-the brakes L17 which are connected by therods 18 with the usualrock shaft 19 ofthe vehicle.

Thus itwill be seen t-hatthe shafts 7 lill be rotated when the power plant of the vehicle is in operation through the differential 8 so that the hubs and the wheels 9 and drums 10 will be rotated.- It willfalso be seen that when the vehicle is traveling over a hard road free of snow, the tires Von the wheels 9 will support t-he rear assembly, with the drums outof contact with the roadsurface,

but when the vehicle is traveling over a snow covered road ory one in which the wheels travel in ruts, the drums will engage the material at the center of the road and thus take the weight of the parts and givev traction to the device even though the wheels 9'are not in contact with the road. The lugs 12 and 13 will prevent the drum from slipping or spinning and their broad road engaging surfaces will insure perfect traction.V Figure 3 shows Athe drums engaging piled up snow or lother material at the center of a road'. y

This inventionwill not only give the vehicle proper traction on roads covered with snow, or muddy roads, but it will also act to can be used by vehicles not equipped with the device. t

The frame 2 carries the mudguards 20 for the wheels 9 and a flexible member 2l extends from the rear part of the attachment to the rear part of the automobile to yenclose the parts. f I also provide Aa pair of runners 22pto be substituted for the front wheels when neces- Y sary or desirable, each runner being attached to an arin 23 which has a tapered opening 24 in its upper end for receiving the spindle 25 of the front axle.` f

Means'for lubricating the various partsare indicated at' 26. i L

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent. I desire it to be understood that I may malte changes in the construction and in the combination of arrangement of the several parts,

provided that such changes fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Vhat I claim is 1. An attachment for a motor vehicle comprising al frame adapted to be connected to the rear part of the chassis of a motor vehicle, hubs rotatably mounted in the side members of the frame, hollow axles having their inner ends forming a differential housing with their outer'ends rotatably supporting the hubs, a shaft in each housing, differential means connecting the inner ends of the shafts together, means for fastening the outer end of each shaft to a hub, awheel connected with each hub, a drum rotatably mounted on each hollow axle and connected with a hub and means for connecting the differential means with the powerjplant of the vehicle.

2. VAn attachment for a motor vehicle come prising` a frame adapted to be connected to the rear part of the chassis of a motor vehicle,

*hubs rotatably mounted in the side members of the frame, hollow axles having their inner ends forming a differential housing with their outer ends rotatably supporting the hubs, a shaft in each housing, differential means connecting the inner ends cf the shafts together, means for fastening the outer end of each shaft to a hub, a wheel connected with each hub, a drum rotatably mounted on each hol lov.' axle and connected with a hub, ieans for connecting the differential means vwith the power plant of the vehicle, brake means on the hubs, means for connecting the bralre means with the brake operating means of the vehicle. 1 j

3. An attachment for a motor vehicle comprising a frame adapted to be connected to the rear part'of the chassis of a motor vehicle,

hubs rotatably mounted in the side members f of the frame, hollow axles having their inner ends forming av differential housing with their outer ends rotatably supporting the hubs, a shaft in each housing, differential means connecting the inner ends of the shafts together, means for fastening the outer end of each shaft to a hub, a wheel connected with `each hub, a drum rotatably mounted on each hollow axle and connected with a hub, means for connecting the differential means with the power plant ofthe vehicle, brake means on the hubs, means forV connecting the brake means with the brake operating means of the vehicle, each drum tapering toward its inner end and transversely and circumferentially extending lugs on each drum.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

i f EMIL w. nennen: 

